GB2174668A

GB2174668A - Palletising apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2174668A
Application number: GB08610574A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adolf-Peter Frohlich
Original assignee: Dimter GmbH
Current assignee: Dimter GmbH
Priority date: 1985-05-11
Filing date: 1986-04-30
Publication date: 1986-11-12
Also published as: IT8620381A1; DK214986D0; GB8610574D0; IT1189115B; DE3517049A1; DK214986A; IT8620381A0

Abstract

Apparatus for palletising plate-like workpieces 1 such as cardboard blanks, plates, panels or boards, comprises an elevator 4 in which stacker plates 2 are detachably suspended. The workpieces 1 to be stacked on a pallet are fed onto the stacker plates 2 from a conveyor 3 in a lower plane and are raised to an upper plane 5. In this upper plane, they are pushed laterally together with the stacker plates 2 by a pusher 6 into position directly above a main stack 14. When the correct position is reached, the stacker plates 2 are pulled out laterally from the main stack 14 by a pulling-out device 10, so that the workpieces are supported directly on the main stack on the pallet. The pallet is progressively lowered to keep the top of the main stack at the same height as each batch of workpieces is placed upon it and finally transported away. The laterally pulled-out stacker plates are lowered by a lowering device 12 and are conveyed back by a device 13 to be suspended again in the elevator 4. By the use of the stacker plates 2, accurate and versatile palletising of workpieces of different shapes and sizes is possible. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Palletising apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for palletising plate-like workpieces, for example cardboard blanks, plates and boards, comprising an elevator, which, in operation, raises the workpieces or stacks of the workpieces to a level above the top of a main stack being formed, and means which lowers the bottom of the main stack as further workpieces are placed on its top.

A wide variety of different constructions of such palletising apparatus are known. In these constructions the workpieces to be palletised, such as flat cardboard blanks or the like, are gripped directly by the elevator and are discharged from it in the plane above the level of the main stack. Displacements and inexact alignment of the workpieces tend to occur when this is done. Furthermore, sorting and adaptation to specific requirements and different workpieces in respect of the assembly of the main stack are only possible with difficulty.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus as initially described, by which palletising, i.e. the assembly of a stack of the workpieces, is improved and in particular the workpieces in the stack are more accurately aligned with each other. Further, the apparatus is simplified.

To this end, according to this invention, such apparatus is characterised by a succession of detachable stacker plates, which are carried by the elevator and on which the workpieces or the stacks of the workpieces are placed, means for displacing the stacker plates laterally into a position directly above the main stack when they reach the level above the top of the main stack, means for aligning the workpieces or the stacks of workpieces with the main stack, means for withdrawing the stacker plates out of the main stack from under the workpiece or the stack of workpieces supported on it, a lowering device for lowering the stacker plates after they have been withdrawn, and means for feeding the lowered stacker plates back to the elevator. The stacker plates may receive the workpieces from a conveyor, for example a roller conveyor, as small, easily handled stacks.The stacker plates with the workpieces on them, after reaching the upper level above the top of the main stack are displaced transversely together with the workpieces. Accurate alignment on the axis of the main stack being assembled on the pallet is thus possible. The stacker plates are pulled out sideways from beneath the workpieces when the workpieces have adopted the correct position. The workpieces, together with the main stack which has already been partly assembled below them, are then lowered, so that the next stacker plate can be transversly displaced into position above the main stack. The pulled-out stacker plates are lowered by the lowering device and are then transported back to the elevator, to be available there again for carriage upwards by the elevator.By means of the invention it is possible to assemble small and easily handled stacks, which are appropriately presorted, to form a large main stack on a pallet. The means which lowers the main stack as it is assembled does not need to be sunk in a pit, since the stacker plates have been raised by the elevator to an appropriately high level even when assembly of the main stack begins. The apparatus can be used for handling the workpieces coming from a number of machines and for assembling them in appropriate stacks.

Preferably, the elevator moves step by step between a position in which the workpiece or the stack of workpieces are placed on it and the level above the top of the main stock.

Preferably also, an adjustable stop is provided for alighning in one direction the workpiece or the stack of workpieces on the.

laterally displaced stacker plate with the workpieces in the main stack.

An example of an apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a roller conveyor 3, for feeding stacks of workpieces 1. The stacks 1 are pushed laterally from the conveyor into an elevator 4. Stacker plates 2, which receive the stacks 1, are suspended in the elevator 4.

When an upper level 5 has been reached by each stacker plate 2 in turn, the workpieces together with their stacker plate 2 are pushed laterally by a pusher 6 until they reach a stop 7. This stop is so adjusted that the workpieces which lie on the stacker plate 2 are aligned in this lateral direction accurately above a main stack 14 being assembled on a pallet. Other stops and pushers 8 ensure the alignment in a lateral direction at right angles to the direction of the pusher 6.

After alignment is completed, the stacker plate which is this position is referenced 9 is pulled out by a pulling device 10 from beneath the workpiece stack which in this position is referenced 11. The stacker plate 9 passes to a lowering device 12, by which the stacker plates are lowered and are then conveyed by a transverse conveyor 13 back to the elevator 4. They are then again suspended in the elevator.

A power-driven heavy-duty roller conveyor transports the completed main stack 14 on its pallet away from the palletising apparatus.

The elevator 4 operates step by step so that in the example illustrated one stacker plate 2 is at a loading station at the level of the conveyor 3, a second plate is at an inter mediate level and a third plate is at an upper level above the top of the main stack 14. If required there may be more intermediate stations in dependence upon the height of the workpieces on the stacker plates compared with the height between the conveyor 3 and the top of the main stack 14.

Claims

1. Apparatus for palletising plate-like workpieces, for example cardboard blanks, plates and boards, comprising an elevator, which, in operation, raises the workpieces or stacks of the workpieces to a level above the top of a main stack being formed and means which lowers the bottom of the main stack as further workpieces are placed on its top, characterised by a succession of detachable stacker plates, which are carried by the elevator and on which the workpieces or the stacks of the workpieces are placed, means for displacing the stacker plates laterally into a position directly above the main stack when they reach the level above the top of the main stack, means for aligning the workpieces or the stacks of workpieces with the main stack, means for withdrawing the stacker plates out of the main stack from under the workpiece or the stack of workpieces supported on it, a lowering device for lowering the stacker plates after they have been withdrawn, and means for feeding the lowered stacker plates back to the elevator.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the elevator moves step by step between a position in which the workpiece or the stack of workpieces are placed on it and the level above the top of the main stack.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which an adjustable stop is provided for aligning in one direction the workpiece or the stack of workpieces on the laterally displaced stacker plate with the workpieces in the main stack.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, in which a further stop is provided for aligning the workpiece or the stack of workpieces in a direction at right angles to the one direction.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the withdrawing means is a pulling-out device adjacent the lowering device for pulling out the stacker plates at the level above the top of the main stack.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. Apparatus for palletising plate-like work pieces, for example cardboard blanks, plates and boards, comprising an elevator, which, in operation, raises the workpieces or stacks of the workpieces to a level above the top of a 'main stack being formed and means which lowers the bottom of the main stack as fur ; ;ther workpieces are placed on its top, charac terised by a succession of stacker plates, which are detachably mounted in the elevator and on which the workpieces or the stacks of the workpieces are placed, means for displac ing the stacker plates laterally out of the ele1vator into a position directly above the main stack when they reach the level above the top of the main stack, means for aligning the workpieces or the stacks of workpieces on the stacker plates with the main stack, means for withdrawing the stacker plates out of the main stack from under the workpiece or the stack of workpieces supported on them, a lowering device for receiving and lowering the stacker plates after they have been with drawn, and means for feeding the lowered stacker plates back into the elevator.